"Salomé" song lyrics by U2

Salomé” is an intriguing and experimental piece from the  Achtung Baby sessions, emblematic of U2’s dive into sensuality, excess, and the darker recesses of human desire. As a B-side to “ Even Better Than The Real Thing,” the track captures the hedonistic and ironic tone that pervades the Achtung Baby era, embracing themes of seduction, power dynamics, and transgression.

The title immediately evokes the biblical and literary figure of Salome, whose story has been mythologized as a symbol of dangerous female allure and destructive power. U2’s lyrics play with this archetype, blurring lines between desire and danger, surrender and control. 

The narrator is entranced by the titular Salome, whose dance becomes a metaphor for both liberation and manipulation. This interplay of attraction and submission aligns with the broader themes of Achtung Baby, where relationships are fraught with tension and ambiguity.

The repeated plea, “Shake it, Salome,” conveys both exhilaration and desperation. It speaks to a yearning for something primal, uninhibited, and transformative—a kind of ecstasy that teeters on self-destruction. In this, the song mirrors the album’s thematic exploration of human frailty and the costs of indulgence.

The story’s biblical origins provide a backdrop for U2’s exploration of desire and the darker sides of human nature, consistent with the more experimental and sensual tones of the Achtung Baby album.

"Salomé" song lyrics by U2

Baby please
Baby please don't go
I got eyes to feed, they want skin and seed
Now don't make me crawl
Baby please
Baby don't bite your lip
Give you half what I've got if you untie the knot
It's a promise

Salomé x 4

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Baby please
Baby, what's that tune
Well, I heard it before when I crawled from the door
And my blood turned blue
Baby please
Baby please slow down
Baby, I feel sick
Don't make me stick to a promise

Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé
Salomé

I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

Baby please
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby don't sing yet
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Won't you dance for me
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Beneath the cherry tree
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Won't you swing down low
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Please
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby please say yes
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Baby don't go away
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you
Don't spill any of your precious love
I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

Shake it, shake it, shake it Salome x 8

Salome

I got to get you
Got to, got to get you

The imagery in “Salomé” draws heavily from its namesake’s legendary dance of the seven veils, symbolizing revelation, seduction, and the power of concealment. This duality—what is seen versus what is hidden—reflects Achtung Baby’s preoccupation with masks, deception, and the fragmentation of identity. Salome’s dance in this context becomes a metaphor for peeling away layers, whether in personal relationships or broader truths.

"Salomé" was included on Melon: Remixes for Propaganda, a fan club-only compilation released in 1995. Specifically, it appeared as the "Salomé (Zooromancer Remix)", a reimagined and extended take on the original B-side.

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